Writing art song has allowed me to explore rich avenues I wouldn't have found without the beautiful texts that have inspired me. My songs have been heard at concerts produced by Friends & Enemies of New Music, New Music New York, Joy in Singing, Lyricfest, Songfest, Songfusion and at Carnegie Hall. I was the recipient of the 2010 NATS Composition Award for my song cycle "Missed Connections" (watch the award ceremony and world premiere here). I love working with living poets and am always open to collaborations.

Dear God (S solo)

Written for soprano Tami Petty, mezzo Sarah Lambert and pianist Howard Watkins for a join recital given at Marble Collegiate Church, New York. These are settings of children’s often comical and touching prayers to God. This is the solo version of the cycle.

Dear God (S/M duet)

Written for soprano Tami Petty, mezzo Sarah Lambert and pianist Howard Watkins for a join recital given at Marble Collegiate Church, New York. These are settings of children’s often comical and touching prayers to God. This is the duet version of the cycle.

Italianate

A setting of several poems by my dear friend Linda Dini Jenkins, all written while visiting Italy with her husband. The cycle was originally written for baritone Jonathan Michie. The premiere was sung by Michael Kelly at Carnegie Hall in November, 2014.

Missed Connections (Baritone)

Missed Connections is a setting of anonymous craigslist.com posts, all pertaining to the search for love and relationships. For this cycle, I had the joy of picking out the texts with mezzo Elizabeth Mondragon. I received the 2010 NATS Composition Award for the cycle, which was premiered by Elizabeth Mondragon and Dr. Andrew Adams at the conference in Salt Lake City.

I was lucky to have my hero (not hyperbole) Kurt Ollmann in the audience at the premiere. He asked if I would be interested in writing a baritone version of the cycle, which I was thrilled to do for him. A handful of the gender-specific songs in the original cycle were swapped out for new songs, the texts of which were chosen by Kurt and me. This is the baritone version of the cycle.

Missed Connections (Mezzo)

Missed Connections is a setting of anonymous craigslist.com posts, all pertaining to the search for love and relationships. For this cycle, I had the joy of picking out the texts with mezzo Elizabeth Mondragon. I received the 2010 NATS Composition Award for the cycle, which was premiered by Elizabeth Mondragon and Dr. Andrew Adams at the conference in Salt Lake City. This is the mezzo version of the cycle.

Nature's Song

Written for soprano Karen Ruth Sprung and pianist Jill Brunelle, premiered at Old South Church in 1999. This cycle is a setting of my dear friend Linda Dini Jenkins’ beautiful poems, all having to do with reflections on nature.

Of all the words in the world

Written for soprano Marie Mascari and Shiela Kibbe to premiere at Carnegie Hall. This has been perhaps my most collaborative song cycle to date, as Marie and poet Danita Geltner both had a hand in selecting the texts and the order of the songs.

Passages

Written for mezzo Elizabeth Mondragon and Shiela Kibbe to close my Carnegie Hall concert. I’ve always loved the poems of Christina Rossetti and thoroughly enjoyed creating a dramatic arc with her work, taking the listener on a journey from life through death.

Six Dennis Rhodes Poems

While in Provincetown several years ago, I came across a book of poetry by Dennis Rhodes. the bookstore proprietor told me he was a local artist and gave me his phone number. Thus began a long friendship and collaboration, which included this cycle for baritone Christopher Herbert.

Songs from an Old Mill Town

Through Dennis Rhodes, I was introduced to the work of living poet Jeff Walt, who writes beautifully dense, emotionally rich poems. I wrote the cycle for tenor Carl Johengen, who was my voice teacher at Syracuse University. The cycle was premiered by him and Shiela Kibbe at Carnegie Hall.

Songs from Ancient Rome

Written for Elisa Doughty, whom I met through Old South Choir in Boston. These three brief pieces feature the translated work of Sculpia (c. 20 BC). They’re a perfect little set for a fiery coloratura.